Improvement in windmills



I 3Sheetsj-Sheet1. G. R. COM.STOCK.

WINDMILL.

Patented April 10, 1877.

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N-PETERS. PHOTO LITHOGRAPHE 3Sheets-Sheet 2; e. COM STOCK.

WINIDMILL.

J Patented Apr-i110, 1877.

. "um, llllllli 1 All 3Sheets-Sheet 3.

e. R. COMSTOC-K.

WINDMILL Patented April 10, 1877;

N-PETERS, ruomlmoemwnsa WASHINGTON u c U ITED STATES PATENT" OFFICE,

GEORGE R. ooiusrrocmon MANKATO, MINNESOTA.

IMPROVEMENT'IN WINB MILLS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. ii 89,302, dated April 10, 1877; application filed August -1, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE R. GOMSTOGK,

' of Mankato. county of Blue Earth, and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Windmills; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of the-same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

This invention consists mainly, first, in the employment of certain novel anti-friction devices between the stationary or base part of the mill, and the upper portion revolving upon it second, in the employment of certain novel friction bearing-wheels for communicating the motion of the wind-wheel shaft to the main veriical shaft; third, in the employment of certain novel devices for governing the speed of the windmill; and, fourth, in the employment of certain novel means for holding the wheel out of the wind when it is desired to stop the mill.

It further-consists in certain details of construction, which, in connection with the foregoing, will be fully described hereinafter.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents aside elevation of my improved windmill; Fig. 2,

.an enlarged view of the devices for connecting the movement of the wind-wheel shaft to the main vertical shaft; Fig. 3, a rear elevation of the upper part of the windmill; Fig. 4, a plan view; Fig.5, a perspective view, illustrating the manner of holding the wheel out of the wind; Fig. 6, a partial sectional elevation of the friction devices between the base portion and upper portion of the mill;

Fig. 7, a sectional elevation of the hearing-- plate 0 detached, and Fig. 8 a transverse sectional elevation of the base or tower.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now proceed to describe fully its construction and manner of.

operation.

A, Fig. 1, represents the foundation structme of the mill, which may consist, generally, of any suitable frame-work rising from a proper base, but is here represented with a base,

a, having a transverse-bar or beam, a ,.Fig. 8, with central bearing-opening a and also corner beams or pillars a, rising therefrom a proper distance, and united at the top bya platform, aflas shown. a Figs. 1 and 6, represents a circular casting or plate adapted to rest uponthe platform a and be rigidly secured thereto, which is provided with a dependent sleeve, a", adapted,

to extend through a central opening in the platform, and upon its upper face with an inclined bearing-surface, a a guiding-flange, a and an annular recess, a), as shown.

a Figs. 1 and 8, represents a beam diagonally held between two pillars near'their upper ends, which has a central opening provided with an anti-friction sleeve or bushing, a as shown.

B, Fig. 6, represents one of a series of antifriction rollers, adapted to rest upon the inclined bearing-surface of the foundation-plate,

0, Fig. l,'represents the superstructure,

adapted to revolve upon the fixed foundation, which consists, mainly, of a base-plate or beam, 0, adapted to sustain the other parts attached thereto. j

0 Figs. 1, 6, and 7, represents a'qcirc'ular bearing-plate, rigidly secured to the lower side of the beam 0, near one end, which is provided with a central tube or sleeve, '0 having antifriction hearings or bushings at its ends, and also with aninclined bearing-surface, o flange c, and recess 0 identical in construction with the corresponding parts of the foundationplate a.

dation-plate a the parts being accurately held in place by the tube 0 which extends through the central opening in the foundationa This bearing-plate 0 is supported by the anti-friction rollers, which rest upon the foun-i plate, and also through the sleeve a" of the beam at". 0 Fig. 1, represents a stop-collar,

by means of which the tube 0 is held against vertical movement. 0 represents the windwheel shaft, supported in proper bearings at one end of the beam 0, which is provided at one end with the wind-wheel 0 hax'ing fixed vanes of any proper construction, and at the other with the conical gear-wheel 0 having annular V shaped grooves, as shown. 0 represents a circular band or tire, inclosing the ends of the wheel, which is preferably sufficiently broad to extend from edge to edge of the vanes, set at-an angle, and protect them from the force of the wind when the mill is stopped. represents an extension of the wind-wheel shaft, which projects outwardbeyond the wind-wheel a proper distance,jand is provided at its outer end with a cup or disk, 0 as shown. 0 0 represent any suitable number otbrace-rods extending from the disk o to the vanes, as shown, by means of which great strengthis given to the wheel without increasing materially its weight.

D represents the main vertical shaft, to which power from the wind-wheel shaft is communicated, and from it transferred to any desired point. This is provided 'at its lower endwith a coupling-socketand atransverse pinOpening, or with other suitable coupling devices, and at its upper end with a centrifugal governor of the usual well-known construction. d represents a conical plate or crown-wheel, rigidly attached to theshaft below the governor, which is provided with a lower bearing-surface of conical form, having annular V-shaped grooves, as shown. {This plate or disk is, in fact, a friction gear-wheel, and rests upon and is supported by the conical gear-wheel 0 as shown. i

TheV-shaped projections and corresponding recesses of the gear-wheels are so formed relatively to each other,as shown in Fig. 2, that the points of the projections do not touch orwbear upon the bottom of the recesses, and V consequently the weight of one part resting 1 i lock sofirmly that slipping is impossible. At thesame time it 'will beunderstood that movethe other has a tendency to wedge the arts together, and cause them to interment is communicated from one part to the other by a rolling contact, so that the friction and wear is reduced to a minimum, a positiveconnection being obtainedwithout the usual grinding or rubbing of one part upon another.

The main vertical shaftextendsthrough thetubec' and is united at its lower endjby any proper coupling device,as before stated, to a pulley-shaft, al held at its lower end by thetransverse beam at; If desired,other suitable means may be employed forconveyin g the power'to any desired point. n r

d represents a stop collar, by means of whichthe shaft Dis held against vertical movement. p y, J.

that against .ley, supportedin rear of themovable part of the vane by any suitablerodorbeam extend ing from the rear end of beam 0, as shown.

-6 represents a cord or rope of proper length, which is attached at one end, in any proper manner, to the movable part of the vane, and

provided at the other with a one or more weights, 0, an intermediateportion passing over the pulley 6 as shown; The movable partof the vane, it will be observed, is so hinged to the fixed part as to swing in one direction only, itsmovelnentibeing limited by the fixed part of the val1e, against which i it shuts. The tendencybfufthe rope and weight just described isto hold the vanein itsnormal pOsitiori-thatis, at rightanglesto a the wind-wheel. y s a a s s F, Fig. 3, represents a lever, pivoted. at one ,end to the upper end of the vertical standard firising from the transversebeam f and pro vided at the other with fingers, adapted to 1 rest in the groove of the governor-sleeve. f Fig. 4, represents a cord or rope of suitable length, which passes under the vertical pulley f about the horizontal pulleyf, and is secured at one end to the lever F; and at the other to. the movable vane, as shown.

G, Figs. 1, 3, and 5, represents a vertical pulley, the block of which is pivoted to a vertical standard, g, rising from the transverse beam 9, as shown. 9 represents a hanging beam or rod, depending from the endot' beam 9 which is provided at its lower end with an eye or other proper fastening device. g iirep resents a rope attachedat one end. to the, movable part of the vane,whi ch, after pass ing over pulley G, hangs down within convenq formupon the tower. a

H represents a cover of -suitable construe f ient reach from the ground,orsuitable plattion, supported upon proper standards, which isadapted to protect the centralportion of the mill; and h, a cover adapted .toprotectthe pul- I, Figs.4and5,representsanadjustable stop-g bar, adapted, by means of a series of holes and a.

' proper fastening'screw, to besecuredin any i desired-position upon the bar 9 By means of this bar the hinged vane {may be fastenedfl l {in any de sired position,- for the purpose of limiting the speed or partially fstopping the mill, ,1 s

as will be described hereinafter; i

J J representweights,located at the rear-HQ 6nd of the turn-table frame, which are em-- ployed to counterbalance the wind-wheel at a. the other endof the frame), Thelatteriweightfl I J, isalso located upon the side" opposite(to A hichpthej freeeiid of the vane;

swings in closing, so that it serves also as a counter balance-tothevane when the mill is l-sasoz 3 stopped, and when it swings away'from its normal center line.

/ K represents an auxiliary .weight, attached, by an intermediate slack chain or rope, k, to the governor-lever, as "was possible to its moving end. This weight, which should exceed the governor-balls in weight, does not act in the usual movements of themill, but remains dormant until an excess of speed over that desired raises the .governorsjufficiently to take up the slack, when it acts by I its weight to prevent further excess of movement. This weight, also, may be attached directly to the governor-lever,,when the mill is laid to, for the purpose of preventing an excess of movement in a high wind or gale, the proper lay-to speed, however, being permitted, as described.

L represents boxing adapted to support the vertical shaft between the governor and the crown-wheel.

L represents boxing located on the turntable frame, and L boxing near the lower end of the shaft. These or any partof them may be employed, if desired, instead of the box ing within the sleeve 0 1 M M M M represent a system of braces, by means of which the fixed portion 6 of the vane is strongly held.

The operation is substantially as follows:

The general operation of this mill is similar to others of its classthat is, the wind-wheel is held in the wind by the vane, and it is moved out of the wind by devices actuating the'hinged vane. 7

The "operation of the peculiar features of construction described is as follows:

The superstructurerevolves freely upon the foundation portion, the friction being greatly reduced by the anti-friction rollers employed between the fixed and moving parts. The action of these rollersis peculiar. v

Being conical in form, and resting upon a bearing-surface having the proper incline, it follows that each portion of their peripheries will revolve at-its proper speed, the inner portions, which have a smaller circle to traverse,

revolving, ofcourse, more slowly than the.

outer. To make the movement of the rollers certain, however, and to prevent cutting or grinding by the irregular action of any part, the intermediate flan ged rollers are employed, which, being themselves accurately guided by the annular recesses a 0 serve, also, to guide accurately the plain rollers between them, so that the entire series move in harmony, and enable the superstructure to revolve with a minimum amount of friction. f

Thewind-wheel, having fixed vanes, is ,revolved by the direct action of the wind, the power thus obtained being transferred to the main vertical shaft by the intermediate friction-gearing described. The whole weight of the vertical shaft and its attachments, it will be observed, rests, by means of the disk, upon the gearing of the wind-wheel shaft, and hence these parts, in consequence of. the peculiaryv-shaped'recesses and projections, are wedged together, so that slipping is impossible. This wedging action is insured by constructing the projections and recesses of such form that the points of the former cannot bear upon the bottoms of the latter, and hence the inclined sides are necessarily wedged together, as described, and thus prevent slipping. It will be understood, also, that the power is conveyed 'from one to the other by a rolling; contact, and hence that therexis. no grinding or cutting-between the parts, but, on the contrary, great smoothness and. free: dom of, action, the mill, in consequence, being operated by a very small amount of wind.

The speed of the windmill is determined bythe action of the centrifugal governor.

This may be properly adjusted'to allow the mill to run at any speed from the slowest movement up to the most rapid within the limits of safety.

When this limit is reached, the governorsleeve, being raised by the action of the rap idly-revolving balls, actuates the lever, and, by means of the intermediate rope, swings the hinged portion of the guiding-vane out of its normal position. The position of the vane being changed, the mill is consequently. revolved, and the wheel movedout of the wind, the distance of its movement, of course, depending upon the movement of. the vane.

This vane, it will be understood, is drawn out of its normal position by the operation of the governor against the action of the weights c and, consequently, when the governor-balls fall under thev reduced speed, the weights draw back the vane to place, and the wheel is again thrown into the \vind.

The speed of the wheel is thus regulated so that it cannot exceed the limits of safety,

no matter how violently the wind may blow. For somepurposes the wheel may run at a comparatively low rate of speed, and thus do its necessary work without the wearand tear incidental to a higher rate.

This result'may be accomplished by lessen: ing the amount of weight employed to draw the hinged vane to; place. Forrinstance, ifa single weight be employed, the governor-balls,

-' having less to overcome, will consequentlybe thrownout at a'lower rate of speed than if more weights were employed. v.

By employing additional weights, on the other hand, thespeed of the mill will be in .creased, because the balls, having more resist. ance to overcome, cannot act unless the shaft revolves more rapidly. By the addition or removal of weights the speed of the 'mill may be'readilyand accurately regulated.

When itis, desired to stop the mill en tirely, the vane is drawn bymeans of the rope into the position shown in Fig.5, where it lies, as will be observed,in a plane parallel vto the plane of the windmill, and consequent- :ly the latter is heldout .of the :wind. .The. rope may befsecuredin any proper manner to the rod, as shown.v

-The better practice, however,'it is believed,

is not to stop the mill entirely under any cir cumstances, but to allow it, when laid to, to run at a low rate of speed, for thepurpose of relieving the wheel and tower from strain.

. r The vane may-be readily adjusted for accomplishing this object by the employment of the'adjustable stop-bar I, the precise position occupied by the vane depending somewhat, of course, upon circumstances.

By means of the stop-bar, also, the vane may be held at the properaugle to run the mill at a low rateof speed, for avoiding wear and tear, as before described, without the possivices between the foundation and superstructure of the millthe moving part is enabled to turn with great readiness, and the wear of the frictional surfaces isreduced to a minimum.

By. the employment of the friction gearwheels power is transferred from the windwheel shaft to the main shaft without slip,

and withouta rubbing or grinding action between the bearing parts. I

By the employment of governing devices described the speed of the wheel may be regulated with great readiness and accuracy.

i By the employment of a lay-to stop-bar the mill may be run at a low rate of speed when desired to, and thus relieve the wheel and tower from strain.

By means of this adjustable stop-bar,also,

the hinged vane. may be rigidly secured in such manner as to cause the mill to run at the lowest rate of lay-tospeed, so that injury from violent movements of. the vane is entirely preventedq 3 I .i The devices, also, for stopping the mill are simple and easily used. The mill as a whole is simple initsconstruction, not liable to get out of order, easily regulated, and yet very efl'ective in its action. i

Having thus fully described, my invention,

what ,I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is--. I 1. In combination with the foundation portion and .the revolving superstructure of windmill, having inclined bearing surfaces a c ,.the conical loose rollers B, substantially asdescribed.

,2. In combinationwith afoundation portion and revolving superstructure of a windmill, ,a series of loose plain rollers, and a series of loose flanged rollers, the members of which alternate with eachother substantially .as

and for the purpose described. ii

.3;- In combination with; thefoundation-plate ot' a windmill, having an inclined bearing, a3, and annular recess a, the correspondin g plate above, and the intermediate looserollers, substantially as describecL; it 4. In combination with the vertical shaft of a windmill-shaft and theWind-wheel the intermediatefriction-gearing described, consist ing of the wheels 01, resembling in form the frustum of a cone, and wheel 0?, of corresponding form. the twobeing united by a series ofV-shaped projectionsand recesses, substantially as described. i

, 5. The vertical shaft D, navin'g disk d rope, and hinged vane with the,retractingweight, substantially as described.

8. In combination with the hinged vanee and a fixed pulley, 6 ,.3 GQId, e extending from the vane, over the pulley, to' a *pointwithin reach, and providedat its lower end with a weight, '6", having means for holding other weights, as and for illlGyPlllPOSBidB- scribed. 9. In combinationwithaQgovernor and a hinged vane united by intermediateconnect; ing devices, snbstantiallyasdescribed, a .retracting-weight, made, adjustable," substantially as and for the purpose settbrth. 10. In combination withthe hinged vane, the stop-rope, adjustable pulley,and dependent beam g as describecL r 11. The combination of a shafthaving a crown-wheel provided with annulanV-shaped projections and recesses, as described, with a shaft having corresponding projections and recesses, and supporting theforiner, as. described. f y i i L 12. A turn-tablemovementfihaving a series of intermediate loose flangedan'd plain rollers, alternated, located asdeseribed.

13. In combination with tlie hinged yane,

the adjustable stop barjI, substantially. as

and for the purpose described.- 14. In combination; with the governor-lever and the regulating-vane, theremovable auxiliary weight, as described. I if This specification signedand witnessed this 22d day of July, 1876. i

QGEOTRGEYR; QQ O K-iw Witnesses: 1

ALEX.MODONALD,- j p H 

